Plea seeking Musharraf`s trial on treason charge rejected

Islamabad: Pakistan`s Sindh High Court today
dismissed a Constitutional petition seeking the trial of
former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on treason charges for
imposing emergency in 2007 and asked the petitioner to
approach the apex court which is looking into the same case.

The petition filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider in the Sindh
High Court had sought the trail of Musharraf along with his
two aides -- noted lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada and former
Attorney General Malik Muhammed Qayyum.

The court had earlier reserved its ruling two weeks ago
after it completed the hearing of the case.

While dismissing the plea, the High Court said the same
matter has come up for hearing in the Supreme Court and hence
any High Court ruling in this regard is uncalled for.
Haider`s petition claimed that Musharraf had imposed
martial law in the name of emergency in 2007 by resorting to
extra-constitutional measures and illegally put over 60
members of the superior judiciary under house arrest.

Pirzada and Qayyum abetted him in the act, the petition
alleged.

All three should be charged with high treason under
Article 6 of the Constitution, it said.
Musharraf, who resigned as President in 2008, has been
living in self-imposed exile in Britain since last year. He
recently launched his party -- All Pakistan Muslim League --
in the UK and announced his return to active politics.